3D Printing Opportunities In Archaeology

Archaeology

3D printing opportunities are opening up in the field of archaeology. When the public thinks about archaeologists, images of people brushing dust from old artifacts and bones come to mind. In addition to the brush, they will now have to add 3D scanners and printers to the picture.

It turns out that the combined technologies of 3D scanning and 3D printing are the perfect tools for the analysis of artifacts and remains. They are proving useful in the restoration of ancient artifacts as well. Artifacts are also being reproduced via 3D printing for the purposes of study, education, and the benefit of the pubic.

One of the more intriguing uses of the technology, is the printing of the skull of a 2,700 year old Egyptian mummy. The mummy is an exhibit at the Ohio Historical Society. A CT scan made by the Wexner Medical Center of Ohio State University, was used to print the skull. The skull replica will be used for teaching purposes and there are plans for using it to reconstruct the mummy's face, which is that of a woman.
A 3D printed replica of Tutankhamun’s tomb is now on display in Egypt. Tutankhamun’s tomb is the most well known of Egyptian burial sites. Every aspect of the tomb was reproduced including the wall murals. The reproduction was so perfect that several of the experts attending the unveiling broke into tears. The reason for making the reproduction is to protect the original tomb site from further wear and tear from the 1000 tourists who visit it every day.

3,000 Years ago, marauding Assyrians smashed a ceramic lion in a temple located in the city of Nuzi. Now a virtual restoration of the smashed up piece has been made by archaeologists at Harvard's Semitic Museum. The parts were virtually fitted together using 3D CAD software.

A physical restoration was then made using the original parts. 3D printed parts were used as substitutes for any missing pieces. This process of restoration is significant because most archaeological articles are nothing more than pieces of broken objects. There are literally thousands of other smashed and broken items in museums around the world that can be restored using this technique.

Although 3D printing has made possible a number of impressive breakthroughs in archaeology, its usefulness is far from tapped out. Further opportunities for advancing archaeology remain for those using 3d printing technology.